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Big Canyon and Eaton Parks

Big Canyon and Eaton are two small parks located in the San Carlos Hills. There is about 4.75 miles of highly enjoyable trail with many seasonal streams, hardwood forest, and vistas of the San Francisco Bay in one direction and the Santa Cruz Mountains in the other.

Eaton Park Trail

View to the Santa Cruz Mountains from Big Canyon Park

Big Canyon Park is more in the open and has more hill climbing along the main one mile loop. There are some well-positioned benches along the way to enjoy the setting. In addition, there is a 0.7 mile side trail that contours around the ridge below houses that seem poised to fall into the ravine someday. Eaton Park is mainly in the oak hardwood forest, but there is a vista point as well. The forest is very pleasant and makes the park feel much larger then it actually is. A single path heads out to connect to Big Canyon Park, but within Eaton a one mile loop can be made as well.

Eaton Park trail crossing a seasonal stream

Big Canyon Park

Overhanging tree trunk in Eaton Park

I look forward to seeing these parks in the spring when the water is flowing and the hillsides are green. In summary, these parks are probably not a destination in themselves, but for locals they are a hidden gem!